Igniter mechanism for internal-combustion engines.



H. R. VAN DEVENTER.

IGNITER MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.3I 1914.

' 1,241,309. PatentedSept. 25, 1917.

As are non.

HARRY RANDOLPH VAN DEVENTER, OF SUM'IER, SOUTH- CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR, BY"

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO SPLITDORF ELECTRICAL COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

IGNITER MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

Application filed December 31, 1914. Serial No. 879,940.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY RANDOLPH VAN DEVENTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sumter, in the county of Sumter and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Igniter Mechanism for Internal- Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadto the accompanying :drawing.

My invention relates to ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines and has for its object the production of a compact and simplified form of ignition mechanism.

A feature of the invention is the mounting of certain equipment, necessary to the operation of the igniter mechanism, on the engine, independently of the igniter sup porting means, whereby only such parts. as must necessarily be in a fixed relative adjustment are carried as a unit resulting in compactness and simplicity.

Another feature is the provision of apparatus of the type above mentioned, readily adaptable to various types of engines.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a plan view.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation with the magneto removed and its operating shaft shown partly in section. I

In the drawings, 1 indicates a wall of the engine 0 linder, which may be of any standard or esired type to which this general type of ignition apparatus is applicable. 2

indicates the body of an igniter which enters the cylinder through an opening in the wall 1. 3 indicates the movable electrode of the igniter cooperating with a fixed electrode 4 carried on the body. The electrode 3 is mounted on a shaft 5 which extends through the body 2, for operation by mechanism external to the cylinder. Secured to the body 2 is a bracket 7 projecting from the engine cylinder in a plane parallel to the axis of theigfiiter, and preferably horizontal. Integral with. this bracket, and also with the igniter body 2, is a plate or flange 6 carrying an, arm 9 upon which is mounted a post 34 foi aTpurpose to be h'ereinafter explained. Fi ianchorages for the operating springs passing throughthe axis of the igniter operating shaft 5. A suitable magneto 31 having its rotor operated by a shaft 40 is mounted on the shelf or bracket 7 with its shaft substantially in alinement with the igniter operating shaft. Mounted upon the shaft 40 of the magneto is an actuator or trip lever 14 with an upwardly projecting finger 15 in the path of reciprocating travel of a push rod 16 which when the engine is running is moved back and forth as indicated by the double headed arrow in Fig. 2. This reciprocating motion may be imparted to the push rod by a crank or cam or other device driven by the engine in a manner which will be well understood by those skilled in the art. The engagement of the parts 15 and 16 is adapted to be controlled by two other independent elements, the first being an eccentric 17 mounted on a fixed shaft 18 and rotatable by means of a handle 19; and the second element being the bell crank lever 20-21, pivoted on the post 34 and whose arm 20 lifts the push rod 16 so that it cannot engage the finger 15, when the arm 21 is forced to the left as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, by a pin or stud 22 on the exhaust valve operating rod 23. The function of the eccentric cam 17 is to effect timing of the spark by determining the extent of engagement of the end of the push rod 16 with the finger 15, and thereby the exact point in the stroke of the push rod at which it will sli over the point of the finger 15 and perm1t the actuator to be snapped back by the springs. The function of the bell crank lever 2021 is to disengage the push rod entirely and prevent actuation of the trip lever 14 on the exhaust stroke. This of course is particularly applicable to a ,hitand-miss engine.

The electrodes 3 and 4 are normally maintained in engagement by means of a helical spring 24 (see Fig. 1) having one end attached to the flange or frame 6 and-the other end attached to the electrode shaft 5. The opening of the electrodes is accomplished by means of a dog 25 rigidly fixed on the electrode shaft and carrying a screw tappet 26-,

on the actuator or trip lever 14. This stud serves also for the attachment of the spring 12, each end of the actuator being slotted to receive the eye on the end of the spring." A pin 28 at the opposite end of the actuator 14 a-aw" Myra.- 01

from the stud 27 receives and holds the eye on the end of the spring 13, and the parts are so proportioned that when the actuator is in the position shown in Fig. 2, that is to say in the normal non-firing position, its axis will approximately coincide with the axes of the spring helices, the springs being under sufiicient tension to maintain this position.

Outside of the actuator, the magneto machine 31 is mounted on the bracket 7, this machine being shown in plan in Fig. 1, but being removed in Fig. 2, and its shaft shown in section, in order to expose the operating parts. may be of any stated type or structure provided it has a rotor or oscillator capable of producing aspark as required by the igniter. I do not herein claim any specific means for attaching the rotor or oscillator of this magneto to the other parts, and particularly to the actuator, but I have shown the actuator carried by the shaft of the magneto.

The arrangement thus described has the marked advantage that the igniter bracket and arms are relieved of the strain of the springs, which normally pull against each other, since their axes are approximatelyin a line passing through the axis of the trip lever and connected parts.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred form of my invention it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such specific form but contemplate all other forms or modifications embodying the invention and falling within the scope of the This magneto, as already stated,

. appended claims. For example, the actuator or trip lever 14 may be carried on a boss on the bracket as shown in my prior application Serial No. 864,447, or on the electrode shaft 5, as in my prior application Serial No. 878,196, instead of on the magneto shaft as herein shown;. Other non-essential changes will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent 1s:

1. An ignition mechanism for internal combustion engines comprising a bracket, an igniter, a magneto carried by said bracket,

an actuator or trip lever for operating the therefor assembled and carried as a unit on said bracket, anchor posts independently 1 carried on the engine, and tension means connected to the anchor posts and said operating parts for actuating the same.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the. presence of two witnesses.

HARRY RANDOLPH VAN DEI ENTER.

Witnesses:

EDNA IsLER, .E. H. RHAMZE. 

